Method of softening water.



A. BRANDES.

METHOD OF SOFTENING WATER. AYPLIOATION IILED JULY 5, 1907.

904, 1 1 4. Patented Nov. 17, 1908 Zea W (Law W By /Z0 a Z- ar/ag/ UNITED sans r'rau'r cr mes.

AUGUST BRANDES, OF HANOVER, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE FIRM OF G. NEFF, OF HANOVER, GERMANY.

METHOD OF SOFTENING WATER.

T (at whom of may concern.

Be it known that I, AUGUST BRANDES, a

subject of the German Emperor, residing at Hanover, Germany, have invented a certain new and useful Method of Softening lVater,

formed in spring and river water is allowed to flow in a thin stream over aluminium the water treated in this manner appears to be changedin its properties probably by change in the chemical constituents dissolved in it, so that it shows alkaline properties which can be utilized for cleansing clothes and the like, and for other purposes. Repeated tests have proved that water treated as described is capable of cleansing even the most soiled linen and the like in a very short space of time. The linen is for this purpose placed in the treated water with the addition of a few ams o1": oil-soap, and boiled for or minutes, whereupon it is rinsed and hung up to dry. By this means the linen is thoroughlycleansed, ovhereas if water is used which has not been so treated a much more lengthy time for the washing process is required.

An apparatus suitable for carrying out the treatment of the liquid is shown in the annexed drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 5, 1907. Serial No. 382,389.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

REISSUED This apparatus comprises a standard a supporting the metal I), for example vertical strips or plates of corrugated aluminium. The upper orifice 0 for the introduction of the liquid is funicular and contains a distributor cl.

The apparatus may be modified in various ways, according to the particular purpose in view, and it may be constructed for household use or for treating liquid on a commerr eial scale. It is only essential that the metallie path of theliquid is of such formation and length that the liquid flows slowly over the metal and that the latter is fully exposed to day-light or other light. The liquid may be made to flow through the apparatus repeatedly, or only once, according to the pur pose for which it is required. Individual tests may be made to ascertain the stren th of the properties acquired by the liquid alter its passage through the apparatus any given number of times.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is i v An improved method of softening spring and river water, consisting in passing the water in a thin stream over the surface of a. uminiu.n exposed to the action of light,

tintil the water shows an alkaline reaction.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST BRANDES. Witnesses PAUL Alums, CLARE SIMON. 

